British Colonial Seating
BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE
Typically made of mahogany, teak or bamboo and featuring a range of fabrics and prints with botanical patterns, antique British Colonial furniture and decor varies as it involved local materials and techniques and spanned centuries of design styles.
As the British Empire expanded from the 16th to the 20th century, its conquest and control of colonies around the world bolstered its wealth through the extraction of resources. Including colonies in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia, this spread of often violent subjugation imposed British culture, language and faith on Indigenous peoples. The design of homes was included in this expression of imperial power, with government officials, merchants and military officers creating homes mimicking the luxuries they were used to in England.
Local artisans were commissioned to replicate British designs, resulting in versions of Regency, Chippendale, Sheraton and other styles of furniture being crafted from mahogany, rosewood, ebony and teakwood as opposed to beech and oak, which were more common in Europe. Whereas the colonial furniture for the Portuguese and Dutch regularly had motifs of indigenous flora and fauna, the British tended to want more exact reproductions of their home country’s designs.
To escape the summer heat in places such as India and the Caribbean, British colonizers relocated to airy houses in the hills or plantations, leading to foldable chairs and collapsible desks in the style of military campaign furniture. Rather than upholstery as they might have in Europe, chairs and sofas in the British Colonial style had rattan and cane seating for these higher temperature climates. The contrast between the light textiles and the dark colors of the sturdy furniture became a defining aesthetic of British Colonial interiors.
Find a collection of antique British Colonial outdoor furniture, seating, bedroom furniture, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
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Style: British Colonial
Lloyd Loom Lounge Chair in White Grey
Located in Voorburg, NL
Fantastic Lloyd Loom lounge chair in greyish white original Lloyd loom weave. The chair has a stable base made of brushed nickel steel base. The Lloyd loom weave is very strong and c...
Category
Early 2000s British British Colonial Seating
Materials
Steel
Antique White Washed Teak Settee or Bench with Slatted Back
Located in Sheffield, MA
Colonial influenced antique hand-carved rustic country daybed or bench made from natural aged teak, deep enough for sleeping or relaxing. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Great in the garden, on a porch or patio. The antique teakwood bench...
Category
Early 20th Century Central American British Colonial Seating
Materials
Teak
Great Pair of Vintage Mahogany Planters Chairs
Located in Charleston, SC
Great pair of vintage mahogany planters chairs with canvas.
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Seating
Materials
Canvas, Mahogany
British Colonial Art Deco Teak Bench or Sofa
Located in Vienna, AT
Unique original Colonial Art Deco teak bench/sofa made in Myanmar around 1930. The bench stands on six feet with brass sleeves that have a wonderful original...
Category
1930s Burmese Vintage British Colonial Seating
Materials
Brass
Teak and Cane Colonial Chaise Lounge
Located in Highland, IN
This striking chaise is long, lean and luxurious. A teak frame with lovely carved details and a woven cane support offers a platform for lounging, reading and relaxing. Made more comfortable by a beautiful woven quilted pad and pillow.
This exceptional piece strikes a balance between antique and...
Category
Early 20th Century European British Colonial Seating
Materials
Cane, Teak
Struttura Poltrona Tripolina, Originale Anni 50. Da Transatlantico
Located in Felino, IT
Galleria Profumo e Fuselli di Genova nel 1949. poltrona originale da transatlantico.
struttura in teak , giunti in ottone.
fa parte di una fornitura navale degli anni 50...
Category
1950s European Vintage British Colonial Seating
Materials
Bronze
Bamboo Lounge Chair
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage lounge chair crafted with bent bamboo and woven rattan in an elegant modern form featuring pullout footrest and adjustable back.
Extended depth 60".
Category
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Seating
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan
British Colonial Style Bamboo Recliner Chair with Ottoman
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid century recliner chair crafted in bamboo and bent bamboo with caned seating featuring a pull out ottoman and Morris style reclini...
Category
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Seating
Materials
Bamboo
Pair of French Rattan Cafe Chairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of antique French rattan and reed cafe chairs with bent wood frames decorated with painted and natural reed wrapped rattan in a g...
Category
Early 20th Century French British Colonial Seating
Materials
Rattan, Reed
Pair of English Armchairs in Velvet and Walnut Wood
Located in Milano, IT
Gorgeous pair of velvet armchairs of English manufacture of the late 1800s.
The beautiful armchairs have a walnut wood structure and have been lined with sand colored velvet tending...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
Wicker Armchairs from the FS Flores Collection, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of mid century inspired armchairs crafted in wicker or reed ambitiously woven over a sturdy metal frame. One of many new designs from the FS Flores Collection...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican British Colonial Seating
Materials
Reed
Antique British Colonial 1830s Caned Oak Reclining Mechanical Dental Arm Chair
Located in Dayton, OH
Englishman James Snell of London made the first mechanical dental chair with an adjustable seat and back for doctors to examine their patients more efficiently. This exquisite exampl...
Category
1830s Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Cane, Oak
Pair of Thai Rosewood Elephant Howdah Saddle Style Chairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of elephant saddle style chairs crafted with rosewood in a distinctive Thai form, hand carved depicting elephants, which are a symbol of fortune, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Thai British Colonial Seating
Materials
Rosewood
British Colonial Teak Slipper Chair With Leather Upholstery
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Circa 1920's
Hand carved Victorian Slipper chair constructed from Teak wood and re-upholstered in brown leather.
Category
1920s Indian Vintage British Colonial Seating
Materials
Teak
West Indies Carved and Caned Daybed or Chaise Lounge
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial daybed, most likely Barbadian crafted in mahogany with a graceful form, floral carvings, handmade construction, caned seat, back and side, and turned legs with brass...
Category
19th Century Bajan Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century Antique High Back Curved English Pine Pub Settle Hall Storage Bench
Located in Philadelphia, PA
18th century antique high back curved English pine wood pub sette hall storage bench. Item features tall curved form, remarkable patina, 3 lift off storage seats...
Category
18th Century English Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Pine
Pair of British Colonial Midcentury Plantation / Lounge Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Elegant pair of solid hard wood and caned British Colonial Plantation chairs, lounge chairs or armchairs. The chairs feature swing out extension arms. The construction is hand made w...
Category
Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Seating
Materials
Cane, Hardwood
19th Century British Colonial Tea Plantation Teak & Leather Lounge Chair
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Circa 1890
Rare Teak and leather lounge chair that was formerly used in a Tea Estate in India. Hand made with pull out leaves that transform into leg rests and can be tucked back ...
Category
1890s Indian Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Teak
Wicker Armchairs from the FS Flores Collection, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial armchairs crafted with a sturdy metal frame ambitiously wrapped in reed with comfort and classic form set on turned wood feet. Exclusively designed and offered by F.S. Henemader Antiques from the FS Flores collection...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican British Colonial Seating
Materials
Wicker
Original Deck Chair from European Colonies in Africa, Early 20th Century
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
It is an original piece, in the first part of the 20th century from the European colonies of Africa. It is foldable to move with garter as it happened with many colonial furniture, f...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Seating
Materials
Wood
Pair of Folding Tripod Stools in Oakwood and Leather
Located in Barcelona, ES
Elegant pair of turned oak Campaign tripod stools with leather folding seats. England, 1930s.
These folding stools feature a turned oak's wood tripod foldable structure. They have a...
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Seating
Materials
Wood, Leather, Oak
Early 20th Century Colonial Sri Lankan Satinwood Garden Chair
Located in Southampton, NY
Hand-turned garden chair made of solid satinwood, Colonial, Sri Lanka, circa 1900. Hand-caned seat and back.
Came from a British Military family in Sri Lanka.
40.25" overall height ...
Category
Early 20th Century Sri Lankan British Colonial Seating
Materials
Cane, Satinwood
Victoria Chair with Tassel Foot, Susanne Hollis Collection
Located in Pasadena, CA
Our Victoria chair with tassel foot detailing in our ebonized finish with a light distress, inspired by an original Swedish 1930s Art Deco pair we f...
Category
2010s American British Colonial Seating
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Armchair English Leather from, 19th Century Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
English club armchair, leather first half of the 20th century. Vintage.
Solid mahogany club chair, English. Classic upholstery which was upholstered with leather. Armrest partly a...
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Anglo-Indian Teak Plantation Chair
Located in Sheffield, MA
Indoor or outdoor British Colonial teak plantation or planters chair with cane seat and back. Wonderful weathered wood patina.
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Teak
19th Century Jamaican Campeche / Planter Chair
Located in Charleston, SC
This elegant British Colonial 1810-1830 Campeche chair is made of solid mahogany and was known in Jamaica as a Spanish chair in the period. This West Indies Planter chair...
Category
Early 19th Century Jamaican Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Side or Office Chairs with Upholstered Seat
Located in Nantucket, MA
Pair of Mid-Century Modern solid rosewood side or office chairs with a slightly curved back for lumbar support. Slightly tapered leg. The seat can be easily removed if you wanted to ...
Category
Mid-20th Century British British Colonial Seating
Materials
Upholstery
Rare Brown Antique Lounge Chair 'Le Surrepos Du Dr. Pascaud' Paris, circa 1924
By Dr. Pascaud 1
Located in Schagen, NL
This chaise longue is called le surrepos du Docteur Pascaud. It was manufactured in Paris, France, circa 1924 and features a natural beech frame, upholstered and covered with horse h...
Category
1920s French Vintage British Colonial Seating
Materials
Beech, Leather
19th Century Tufted Leather Foot Stool or Bench, with Raising Capabilities
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here is a fine, 19th century, brown leather, button tufted foot stool with mahogany frame and brass tacks over turned legs and brass wheels. Having t...
Category
1860s British Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Jamaican Cuban Mahogany Upholstered Sofa with Acanthus & Lion Paw Feet. C. 1820
Located in Hollywood, SC
Jamaican Cuban mahogany sofa with flanking scrolled arms, reeded skirt, centered rosette, and terminating on acanthus carved lions paw feet. Sofa has be...
Category
1820s Jamaican Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Muslin, Mahogany
Pair of Wooden and Leather Armchairs
Located in Tourcoing, FR
Pair of solid wood and tawny leather armchairs: subtle wood work for the structure, rounded and contoured lines, the cushions are removable and dressed in fawn leather. All in beauti...
Category
20th Century European British Colonial Seating
Materials
Leather, Wood
Andrianna Shamaris Shell Inlay Teak Wood Colonial Chair
Located in New York, NY
Colonial reclining plantation chair. Perfect for inside or outside relaxation.
The St. Barts collection features an exciting new line of organic white wash and natural weathered tea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Colonial Seating
Materials
Shell, Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood
Luxurious Large George Smith Chesterfield Sofa Upholstered in Purple Mohair
By George Smith
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An iconic symbol of traditional British design and craftsmaship, the tufted Chesterfield sofa as sumptuously upholstered in new plum purple mohair and finished with brass nailheads.
...
Category
Early 2000s English British Colonial Seating
Materials
Mohair
Antique British Colonial Anglo Indian Teak Distressed Plantation Armchair
Located in Dayton, OH
Early 20th century British Colonial Anglo Indian plantation chair. Made from teak in mortise and tenon joinery with a relaxed lounged frame and long arms. Features a curved crest rai...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Seating
Materials
Teak
Early 19th Caribbean British Colonial Mahogany Planter's Chair
Located in Charleston, SC
This West Indies solid mahogany planter's chair was made in the early 19th century in Martinique, circa 1820, in the British Colonial style and features the classical extending arms....
Category
19th Century Caribbean Antique British Colonial Seating
Materials
Canvas, Mahogany
British Colonial seating for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique British Colonial seating for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage seating created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, natural fiber and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial seating made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original seating, popular names associated with this style include Andrianna Shamaris, Baker Furniture Company, Dr. Pascaud, and English School. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for seating differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $300 and tops out at $52,000 while the average work can sell for $3,694.
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